Sony UK has announced that the Memory Stick has become smaller in size and faster in transferring data. Sony has evolved the Memory Stick Duo at one third the volume and one half the weight of the standard Memory Stick launched last September to offer users a high-speed data transfer of up to 160Mbps, making it more suitable for speedy data transfer among a wide range of mobile electronic devices such as digital still cameras, mobile phones, PCs and PDAs. The new Memory Stick Duo has 128MB capacity and incorporates a parallel interface, allowing users to quickly view stored content. It can be used in most of the existing Memory Stick Duo enabled products and other Memory Stick enabled products via a supplied adapter.

It also contains MagicGate™ copyright protection technology as a standard feature, ensuring the secure transfer and playback of commercial and copyrighted content, such as digital music. The new Memory Stick Duo will be available in 32MB, 64MB and 128MB capacities in the UK during September 2003.

The new generation Memory Stick format, Memory Stick PRO was jointly developed by Sony and SanDisk Corporation, is now available as an ultra-compact, high performance Memory Stick PRO Duo. The Memory Stick PRO Duo has a theoretical maximum storage capacity of 32GB, high-speed data transfer of up to 160Mbps plus a minimum write speed of 15Mbps. Memory Stick PRO Duo with capacities of 256MB and 512MB will be available in the UK during October and November 2003 respectively.

The new MSAC-US30 Memory Stick USB Reader/Writer enables all kinds of Memory Stick media including Memory Stick PRO to transfer data at a high speed when connected to a USB-enabled PC. The MSAC-US30 accepts both standard-size Memory Stick and Memory Stick Duo and, when combined with a parallel interface and USB2.0 connection, its transfer speed can be as high as 480Mbps. The MSAC-US30 also contains MagicGate copyright protection technology and SonicStage (version 1.5.50) software, enabling fast and easy music handling on a PC from numerous sources, such as audio CDs and Internet-based music. The MSAC-US30 will be available in the UK during September 2003.

Sony products are the essence of simple connectivity. They are designed to connect quickly to each other and to the world beyond so that every owner, from the novice to the enthusiast, can easily enjoy the benefits of digital networking. For example, Memory Stick makes it easy to connect your Cyber-shot digital still camera to a WEGA television and enjoy your shots in outstanding, vibrant quality. You can also create, edit and share your own movies on DVD using a digital Handycam, a DVD player/recorder and a VAIO, and, with a simple connection to a WEGA television, view these in the same superb quality. Or you can enjoy your favourite music whenever you want by creating your own Internet-sourced compilations on NetMD or CD with a VAIO and a Sony network music device. Such simple connectivity creates a bridge between the worlds of AV and IT and gives you complete control over your digital environment.